Synonyms of prying

prying 1 of 4

noun

as in questioning

Synonyms & Similar Words

• questioning
• interrogation
• inquiry
• interference
• concern
• wonderment
• attentiveness
• intrusiveness
• interest
• inquisitiveness
• regard
• obtrusiveness
• officiousness
• eavesdropping
• curiosity
• nosiness
• meddlesomeness
• curiousness
• rubbernecking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifference
• disregard
• incuriosity
• incuriousness
• unconcern
• apathy
• disinterestedness

• indifference
• disregard
• incuriosity
• incuriousness
• unconcern
• apathy
• disinterestedness

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prying

2 of 4

adjective

1

as in curious

interested in what is not one's own business

as we moved into our new home, we could sense that there were prying eyes watching us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• curious
• inquisitive
• nosey
• nosy
• interested
• intrusive
• meddling
• questioning
• officious
• meddlesome
• interfering
• snoopy
• concerned
• obtrusive
• interrogative
• inquisitorial
• quizzical
• inquisitional

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifferent
• disinterested
• incurious
• uninterested
• unconcerned
• uncurious
• apathetic

• indifferent
• disinterested
• incurious
• uninterested
• unconcerned
• uncurious
• apathetic

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2

as in busy

thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited

prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business

Synonyms & Similar Words

• busy
• intruding
• intrusive
• nosey
• nosy
• meddling
• officious
• interfering
• meddlesome
• annoying
• pushing
• obtrusive
• pushy
• snoopy
• protrusive
• presumptuous
• rude
• presuming
• invading
• impudent
• brazen
• insolent
• curious
• trespassing
• inquisitive
• bumptious
• impertinent
• harassing
• overbearing
• bold
• pestiferous
• superserviceable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unobtrusive
• silent
• quiet
• uninvolved
• withdrawn
• reclusive
• reticent
• retiring
• restrained
• taciturn
• reserved
• inhibited
• hands-off
• subdued

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• unobtrusive
• silent
• quiet
• uninvolved
• withdrawn
• reclusive
• reticent
• retiring
• restrained
• taciturn
• reserved
• inhibited
• hands-off
• subdued

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prying

3 of 4

verb (1)

present participle of pry

1

as in pulling

to raise, move, or pull apart with or as if with a lever

it took some effort to pry up the trap door

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pulling
• lifting
• breaking
• jimmying
• levering
• dividing
• elevating
• separating
• prizing
• shifting
• detaching
• hoisting
• disengaging
• uplifting
• parting
• breaking up
• disjoining

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• connecting
• joining

• connecting
• joining

2

as in yanking

to draw out by force or with effort

a vain attempt to pry the cork out of a wine bottle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pulling
• yanking
• extracting
• plucking
• removing
• uprooting
• tearing (out)
• wringing
• taking (out)
• prizing
• wresting
• corkscrewing
• rooting (out)
• mining
• withdrawing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inserting
• installing
• instilling
• implanting
• stuffing
• jamming
• wedging
• ramming
• cramming

• inserting
• installing
• instilling
• implanting
• stuffing
• jamming
• wedging
• ramming
• cramming

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prying

4 of 4

verb (2)

present participle of pry

as in interfering

to interest oneself in what is not one's concern

don't go prying into other people's business

Synonyms & Similar Words

• interfering
• messing
• snooping
• poking
• intruding
• meddling
• intervening
• obtruding
• nosing
• intermeddling
• interloping
• mucking (about or around)
• butting in
• invading
• encroaching
• fooling
• interceding
• interposing
• tampering
• trespassing
• infringing
• fiddling
• playing
• chiseling (in)
• monkeying
• chiselling (in)
• barging (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoiding
• ignoring
• shunning
• eschewing
• neglecting
• disregarding
• overlooking

• avoiding
• ignoring
• shunning
• eschewing
• neglecting
• disregarding
• overlooking

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective prying contrast with its synonyms?

The words curious and inquisitive are common synonyms of prying. While all three words mean "interested in what is not one's personal or proper concern," prying implies busy meddling and officiousness.

prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business

When is it sensible to use curious instead of prying?

While in some cases nearly identical to prying, curious, a neutral term, basically connotes an active desire to learn or to know.

children are curious about everything

When is inquisitive a more appropriate choice than prying?

The words inquisitive and prying are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inquisitive suggests impertinent and habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing.

dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives